Causeway Covered in Sludge After Long Beach Truck Accident

The Route 72 Causeway was covered in sludge after a Long Beach truck accident, causing dangerous conditions for other drivers. A dump truck’s rear door swung open on the Causeway around 1 p.m. on November 5, causing great difficultly for drivers to get through the thick sludge spread across the road.

Witnesses that drove through the mess told The Sandpaper that the sludge was more than a foot deep and that they “thought [they] were going to die.” One witness told the news website that the drivers had no warning before the spill. According to the witness, the dump truck’s door opened at the top of an incline, causing cars to fishtail and swerve, barely avoiding accidents. Drivers had no choice but to drive through the muck, potentially damaging their vehicles as the sludge went under their cars.

The driver of the dump truck that spilled the mess claimed it was an unusual haul, alleging that movement within the truck caused the back door to burst open. However, after speaking with authorities, the driver admitted that a metal hook used to lock the left side of the rear door was inside the vehicle after the accident and was only put in its proper place after the accident.

Authorities are still investigating the incident. No initial injuries were reported.

Commercial trucks carrying heavy or improperly balanced loads are incredibly dangerous to Florida drivers. When truck drivers are negligent when loading cargo or following the rules of the road, spills, truck accidents, explosions and fires may occur, putting other motor vehicle drivers at risk. Truck drivers and trucking companies are required to follow specific rules and regulations set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and can cause serious or fatal injuries when these rules are not followed.

If you have been injured in a Florida truck accident, contact our injury lawyers at (800) 383-7853 for a free consultation.